Primary Election Date: 08/24/2010
General Election Date: 11/02/2010

Who Am I?

I am a Career United States Air Force officer, serving all over the USA and the world. I left home at 17 to attend the USAF Academy, and after I graduated and was commissioned, I flew as a navigator on KC-135s, the same type of planes as those stationed at Macdill. The Air Force gave me the opportunity to work with many different types of people in many different countries. I learned how to succeed, even with limited resources and to succeed when working in high-pressure situations. My military career, combined with my service later in my life has prepared me to be an effective representative for the District 60.

This is why I am running: We can do better! I see us striving for sustainable economic development focusing on local business and job growth that does not over task our water supplies or make our traffic worse; for us to strive for a sustainable environmental policy where we develop long term energy and transportation policies that don't rely on more and more petroleum - we should take advantage of being the "Sunshine State;" and finally, to have educational policies where schools are held accountable fairly and where teachers and administrators at the school level are given the latitude needed to provide the good education our children need for future success. I will be a representative to help make this happen. I will be “Russ for us!”

Throughout my career, and especially my career with the US Air Force, I worked successfully with many different types of people in many different places to effect positive change. I know what it is like to meet many different challenges and succeed. My career also gave me the freedom to give back to my country with public service. I will represent the people of District 60 and not the special interest groups that seem to control our legislature today. I’ll be a representative of the people like our founding fathers envisioned back in 1776.

Background
1974 – 1994 USAF, stationed in OK, CA, NC, The United Kingdom, and The Netherlands
1995 – 1999 General Manager, Cambridge Arctic Shelf Programme, Cambridge, UK
2000 - 2006 Community Organizer, Field Organizer, Field Director, MO, PA, VA, CT, RI, ME, LA, AR, FL for Democratic Campaign Management School
2001 – 2002 Executive Director, Wilson County Fair, Wilson, NC
2006 – 2007 Regional Organizer, Equality Florida, St. Petersburg, FL
2007 – 2010 Guest Teacher, School District Hillsborough County, FL
2009 - Present Certified Public School Teacher, Social Science, Grades 6 to 12

Why Am I Running?

We can do better! My vision for Florida and District 60 is different from what the legislature has been doing the last 10 years. I see us striving for sustainable economic development focusing on local business and job growth that does not over task our water supplies or make our traffic worse; for us to strive for a sustainable environmental policy where we develop long term energy and transportation policies that don't rely on more and more petroleum we should take advantage of being the "Sunshine State;" and finally, to have educational policies where schools are held accountable fairly and teachers and administrators at the school level are given the latitude needed to provide the good education our children need for future success.

Hold Me Accountable!

Our Economy. We need representatives who will
work to build a climate for small businesses to thrive
and bring good jobs for Floridians.

Our Education System. A strong educational system
for Florida will help entice businesses to set up shop
here, providing good jobs for our people.

Our Environment. A sustainable environmental
policy will help businesses thrive for the long term,
again, providing good jobs for our people.

My DFA values:

I've been socially progressive and fiscally responsible all my life. We must put the people of Florida before special interests who have another agenda.

Kids: We need to make sure we educate them well and prepare them for the future. Lets stop focusing so much on these high stakes tests and let teachers teach the curriculum.

Kids: We need to put kids first when it comes to adoption. Children need loving parents or a loving parent, regardless of a parent's sexuality. We must change the law banning adoption of children by gay and lesbian people.

Environment: We must not drill for oil off the Florida Coast. We're the "Sunshine State" and should take advantage of what God has given us and steer our energy policy away from oil based policies.

Environment: We must stop overtasking our water supplies. We are virtually giving away our water to corporations to sell to us for over a dollar a bottle. These companies make many of us doubt the quality of our public water supply, using that to make even more money using our precious resources.

The Economy: We need to focus on how to help small business to grow strong and provide sustainable long term jobs.

The Economy: We must make our tax system fairer. There are too many exemptions for state sales taxes that benefit only the wealthy. For Example: No sales tax on luxury boxes in pro-ball stadiums.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

My goal is to have a well funded grassroots campaign, one where when we knock on doors, we will have good material to leave. I'd like to have the people we target to call to have received at least one letter from me in the mail before we knock on their door. I see the campaign participating in many local events to get the message out that WE CAN DO BETTER!

Our Field Program was tested and found strong.